Unborn baby death added to fatal fire charges

Two brothers from Argyle have each been charged with a fourth count of homicide for the death of an unborn child in a house fire they allegedly set. Armin and Jeremy Wand were already charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide in Lafayette County, after three of Armin’s children died in their burning home on September 7.

Authorities said Armin’s wife Sharon had severe burns as she ran away from the fire and doctors at U.W. Hospital in Madison said the child she was carrying died a few hours after the blaze.

Wisconsin adopted a fetal homicide law 24 years ago, which makes it a felony to cause the death of an unborn child or the infant’s mother.

Both defendants are also charged with attempted homicide in connection with Sharon’s injuries, and the safe escape of the couple’s two-year-old daughter during the blaze.

Armin Wand the Third, 32, and his 18-year-old brother Jeremy are both due to enter pleas next Wednesday. Their lawyers have asked that their possible trials be heard by juries from outside the Madison T.V. market, due to heavy publicity about the case in that region.